2014 Summit Presenters

Gold is an author, poet, lyricist, and community “artivist” whose spoken word poetry performances are both transformative and entertaining. An active member of Arts Mid-Hudson and the Arts & Community Action Group, she is the regular host for spoken word open mic events in Newburgh and Poughkeepsie and has performed at the Falcon, Mohonk Mountain House, and Cove Lounge in Harlem. The recipient of several county and state awards, and numerous commissions for original poems, Gold will be a featured poet in the upcoming reality series, 26 Mics N 26 Weeks. youtube.com/user/bgoldw

The global initiative of Million Women Drummers Gathering is to cultivate a “new mindful model” for a sustainable future for Trees and Drums while fostering diverse community partnerships and networks with drum and dance groups, environmental organizations, and youth/elder programs. The group’s founder, Ubaka Hill, is a nationally acclaimed performer, artist, and teacher who has shared the art and spirit of drumming with others for over 30 years. Founder and curator of The Drumsong Institute Museum & Archive of Women’s Drumming Traditions, Ubaka is a member of the Advisory Council of the Omega Institute’s Women’s Leadership Center. MillionWomenDrummers.org UbakaHillDrumsong.com

Dr. Rita Freedman, a clinical psychologist and noted expert on the psychology of women, currently maintains a clinical practice in Westchester, NY, where she was honored as Distinguished Psychologist of the Year. Her books, Bodylove, Beauty Bound, and Overcoming Loss, have been featured in many magazines, including Vogue, People, Self, and O magazine. Dr. Freedman also has made appearances on Good Morning America, 20/20, and CNN. RitaFreedman.com

Janet Morgan creates art and collaborative art experiences from a desire to find the sacred and the transcendent in our everyday lives. Her images of gods and goddesses, healers, “wild women,” musicians, and dancers celebrate those who both rest within and rise above the mundane, while her landscapes explore the hallowed places created by geologic upheaval. As a pathway to freedom, Janet’s work expresses a worldview full of color and energy and reflects her quest for “source” in all things. JanetMorgan.net

The New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) is a resource for New York State´s nonprofits. NYCON works to build the capacity of nonprofits and communities to enhance the quality of life in New York State. The organization provides a wide array of specialized technical assistance services to nonprofits of all kinds. It also provides an array of group purchasing, insurance and employee benefits in the context of membership, helping to build long-term, multilayered service relationships with member nonprofits. NYCON’s mission-based activities are enhanced by two subsidiary corporations: Innovative Charitable Initiatives, Inc., and Council Services Plus. Nycon.org

Hudson River Playback Theatre (HRPT), a nonprofit organization based in New Paltz, New York, creates dynamic, improvisational theater based on true stories told by audience members. In recent years, HRPT has performed in London, Frankfurt, Boston, Washington, D.C., and New York—in schools with its No More Bullying! program, as well as for organizations, prisons, conferences, and immigrant communities. HRPT founder Jo Salas is a cofounder of Playback Theatre, which was created in 1975 and is currently being practiced in over 65 countries worldwide. HRPT has been part of Omega’s Women Serving Women Summit each year since its inception in 2011. HudsonRiverPlayback.org